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New Parties Come With Joint Statement About Elections

St. Maarten – The five newly established political parties will come with a joint statement about the decision to move the elections from February 9 to September 26, Christian Party leader Wycliffe Smith told this newspaper yesterday evening. He declined to make an individual comment on the situation, but it stands to reason to assume that the five parties are not happy with the outcome of the process.

The Christian Party, Hope, led by Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt (aka Elektra),MAP, led by Peter Gittens, SMD, led by Benjamin Ortega and Beyond St Read more

Nagico 2016 Calendar Features Artwork From Local Students

NAGICO Insurances CEO Dwayne Elgin presents winners Carina Alcin and Tracey Aloma with a copy of the 2016 calendar displaying their handy work and a gift certificate for Boolchands. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Nagico Insurances launched its 2016 calendar, entitled My Heritage, My Culture – a compilation of art submitted by students from across the Caribbean, two (2) of whom are from St Read more

Lisa Alexander: Canceling National Decree Is Unconstitutional”

St. Maarten – “His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday’s attempt to cancel the national decree of October 29 is unconstitutional,” Lisa Alexander said in a press statement last night. “There is absolutely no provision in the Constitution that gives the governor the authority to cancel a published National Dissolution Decree. This decree affects the fundamental rights of the citizens of St Read more

Mp Maurice Lake: Vital Role For Gebe In Renewable Energy

St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake says he foresees GEBE playing a vital role in renewable energy in St. Maarten. “Based on the coalition of eight’s governing program, we will continue where the steering committee within government left off with the waste-to-energy plant discussions and review the latest draft agreement,” he said in a press statement.

Government is continuous and the previous Government should never have attempted changing plans that were in the best interest of the people, Lake noted. “Based on the shareholder’s meeting that took place yesterday, Gebe Management and supervisory board will inform the Council of Ministers about its current state of affairs.  The Minister of Vromi, who is shareholder representative of GEBE, needs to put as an agenda point the historical and current status of renewable energy.  We need to work towards the future by starting investments into renewable energy and alternative sources of energy through LPG/ LNG, also by promoting solar energy to the community in addition to having the necessary policies in place.”

Those who have invested in solar energy production in our community should be commended for taking the initiative on their own, Lake added. “All stakeholders, Gebe and government, need to put in place what is necessary for local solar energy producers to receive back what they contribute on a daily basis based on their solar energy investment and contribution to the electricity grid.  Gebe needs to adjust its meters to accommodate solar energy to residential homes Read more

Carpha Continues To Battle Dengue And Chikungunya And Prepares For Zika

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago - Vector borne diseases, such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, continue to emerge in the Caribbean, threatening health, tourism, social and economic development. 

According to Dr. Joy St. John, Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA “in the last decade, the Caribbean has been wrestling with wave after wave of vector borne diseases Read more

Mp Lake Says Gebe Must Play Vital Role In Renewable Energy For St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake says he foresees GEBE playing a vital role in renewable energy in St. Maarten. â€œBased on the Coalition of Eight’s Governing Program, we will be continuing with where the Steering Committee within Government left off with the Waste to Energy Plant discussions and review the latest draft agreement,” he said. Government is continuous and the previous Government should never have attempted changing plans which was in the best interest of the people.  Based on the upcoming Shareholder’s meeting on December 15th, GEBE Management and Supervisory Board will inform the Council of Ministers about its current state of affairs.  The Minister of VROMI, who is Shareholder representative of GEBE, needs to put as an agenda point the historical and current status of renewable energy.  We need to work towards the future by starting investments into renewable energy and alternative sources of energy through LPG/ LNG, also by promoting solar energy to the community in addition to having the necessary policies in place, pointed out Lake.
 
“Those who have invested in solar energy production in our community should be commended for taking the initiative on their own.  All stakeholders, GEBE and Government, need to put in place what is necessary for local solar energy producers to receive back what they contribute on a daily basis based on their solar energy investment and contribution to the electricity grid.  GEBE needs to adjust their meters to accommodate solar energy to residential homes Read more

Upnext Starts To Give Back

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - UPNext, the youth wing of the United People (UP) party, have begun their annual holiday tradition of giving back to the less fortunate children in the community.

This past weekend the group visited Antonia Hodge and the Hope Outreach Home in St. Peters to deliver gifts, setup and decorate a Christmas tree, also provided by UPNext.

The group will visit a number of children's homes in the coming days.

The expressed thanks to the businesses and individuals who continue to work with them as they try to give St Read more

Scell & Women’S Island Network Set Big Enrollment Goal For Usm/Uvi

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Friday, December 4, 2016 SCELL, The University of St. Martin’s School of Continuing Education and Life-Long Learning, appointed the Women’s Island Network Board and Honorable Board Members.

WIN was founded by Dr. Natasha J. Gittens, Ph.d., CHE, SCELL’s Director.

The Women’s Island Network Board consists of women of power, professionalism and all who share the desire and conviction to support other women embrace educational opportunities.

The Board and Honorary board were hand selected based on their commitment to the St Read more

Universal Health Coverage Saves Lives, Alleviates Poverty And Boosts Growth Message By Guy Ryder, Ilo Director-General On The Occasion Of Universal Health Coverage Day 12 December 2015

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago - On Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day we acknowledge that more needs to be done to ensure that every person, everywhere, has access to quality health care without suffering financial hardship.

The ILO estimates that in 2015 more than 90 per cent of the global population living in low-income countries has no health protection and that more than half of the global rural population does not have access to needed health care Read more

Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Queries Mp Wescot-Williams On Climate Change And Sint Maarten’S Role

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo, has sent a letter to the President of Parliament requesting answers to the statement/comment made by MP Sarah Wescot Williams in her capacity as member of the CKAIR committee Read more

International Launch ‘Welkom Op Sint Maarten!’ In The Sint Maartenhuis, The Hague, The Netherlands

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The launch of the second edition of ‘Welkom op Sint Maarten! The Friendly Island’ edition 2016-2017, took place on the 17-th of November in the Sint Maartenhuis in the Hague, the Netherlands. Mr Perry F.M. Geerlings, Director of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, received the first copy of this second edition.

In 2014 the international launch took place at Sint Maarten when former Minister President Mrs. S. Wescot-Williams received the first copy of the first edition (edition 2014-2015).

Meanwhile ‘Welkom!’ has become a standard book for newcomers and travellers from the Netherlands who want to come to Sint Maarten for a short or longer period, and who want to know all kinds of practical information about the island, like moving, finding a place to stay, electricity, finding a car, telecom providers, insurances, health care issues, leisure activities, etc Read more

Wycliffe Smith About Separation Of Church And State: “Distinct Yet Inseparable”

St. Maarten – Ever since the Sint Maarten Christian Party announced its participation in the upcoming elections the issue of separation of church and state became debatable. Opinions range from strict separation to a close association between church and state.

“People wonder where the Sint Maarten Christian Party’s stands on this controversial issue. People can rest assured that the party is not about establishing a religious state,” party leader Wycliffe Smith wrote in a press statement Read more

St. Maarten Port Inaugurates Gottwald Crane

On the left is the boom of the Terex Gottwald Model 6 Crane and the CMA CGM Container Vessel, the largest to dock at Port St. Maarten, MV Marseille. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – During the inauguration on Saturday of the newly acquired Terex Gottwald Model 6 Crane, and the welcome ceremony for the CMA CGM Marseille Container Cargo Vessel – the largest vessel to operate at Port St. Maarten Cargo Facility – the buzz coming from various stakeholders was about the strategic investments that have been made by Port St Read more

New Parties Urge Governor To Hold February Elections

St. Maarten – The five newly established political parties have, as they announced last week, sent a protest letter to Governor Drs. Eugene Holiday, demanding that the elections on February 9 of next year take place and will not be postponed. The letter is dated November 30, but its authors are still awaiting an answer from the Governor.

“We are hearing rumors that the new government will first seek a decision from parliament on the postponement of the elections,” the five parties write in their letter Read more

Up Leader And Board Congratulates Saba On 40Th National Day

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The United People's Party (UP) family, Leader and board extends congratulations to the people of Saba and the Government on their national ‘Saba Day’ celebration which is being celebrated today, Friday, December 4th, and over the Saba Day weekend, the UP Party Board President Sylvia Meyers said on Friday.

Leader of the UP Party and Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger, has strong family ties with Saba.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people and Government of Saba on their 40th Saba Day celebration.  This is indeed a milestone for the little five square mile which is the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

“There are strong family bonds that exist between Saba and Sint Maarten.  Those bonds could never be broken because of the aforementioned.  The islands should continue to work together and develop.

“Sint Maarten already works closely together in the tourism field with the smaller islands such as Anguilla, St Read more

Un Strategic Planning Retreat

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago - On the 3th of December the Strategic Planning Retreat (SPR) for the UN Multi Country Sustainable Development Framework (UN MSDF) for the Caribbean was held in Trinidad and Tobago.

The event brought together UN senior officials and representative from the government across the region.

The SPR was held on the 3rd of December under the theme “leave no one behind”, underlining the importance of inclusion in all the priorities for the Caribbean region Read more

U.S. Ambassador To The Kingdom Of The Netherlands Visits The Dutch Caribbean

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao - U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Timothy M. Broas, accompanied by Acting U.S. Consul General Hormazd Kanga, visited Curac¸ao, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Bonaire this week.

In Curac¸ao, Ambassador Broas met with Prime Minister Bernard “Ben” Whiteman and other government officials. His visit coincided with Curac¸ao Baseball Week, an event that brings local superstars of America’s national pastime back to Curac¸ao to inspire and train young baseball players on the island Read more

2015 Thanks Giving Day Service Themed “Give Thanks At All Times!"

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Under the theme, “Give Thanks At All Times!,” the 17th Annual Thanksgiving Service will be held Sunday, December 6, 2015 in front of the Government Administration Building.

The ecumenical service will begin at 4:30 PM with Praise and Worship led by the New Testament Baptist Church.

The Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Read more

Caribbean Hotel And Tourism Association Urges United Nations Conference To Support Caricom Position On Climate Change

THE CARIBBEAN - The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is calling on the global community to support CARICOM's position advocating for a cap on the world's temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Centigrade as part of their deliberations during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, taking place in Paris from Nov. 30 - Dec. 11, 2015.

In a letter to the Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, Chairman of CARICOM Task Force on Climate Change, CHTA Acting President Karolin Troubetzkoy strongly supported CARICOM's call for a binding agreement on climate change.

"Considering the significant research conducted to demonstrate trend lines and forecasted impact of climate change on the world's most vulnerable countries, CHTA fully supports the position being advanced by the CARICOM Task Force," Troubetzkoy said.

Many developed and newly industrialized countries are prepared to settle for a 2025 climate change of a two-degree increase which would negatively impact CARICOM countries and the broader Caribbean basin.

CHTA cites research that points to the devastating consequences for the Caribbean from a two-degree rise in temperature Read more

Cutting Edge Therapy For Psoriasis Patients Now Available In The Caribbean

PANAMA CITY - Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that affects around 140 million people worldwide.  It's more frequent between the ages of 15 and 25, but may develop at any age and highly impacts the quality of life.

Several types of psoriasis exist, which range from mild to severe and disabling. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form and is known for producing inflammation and scaly patches of thickened skin called "plaques" Read more

Dutch Quarter Upgrade Has Again Priority

St. Maarten – On June 2012 current Prime Minister William Marlin, then minister of Vromi. promised Dutch Quarter that the district would be “brand new” by the end of 2014. Why nothing happened? “The wrong people were in government,” Marlin said at yesterday’s Council of Ministers press briefing. “Right now, this project has priority again.”

St Read more

New Political Parties Balk At Postponement Of Elections

From left Peter Gittens, Daniel Ortega, Loekie Morales, Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt and Wycliffe Smith. Photo contributed

St Read more

Christian Party Hosts General Meeting

The Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) hosts a general meeting tomorrow at Belair Community Centre at 7.30 p.m. This general meeting serves to inform the public about the objectives and goals of the party. Also, it is an opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the faith-based political party.

Founded by Wycliffe Smith, former Lt. Governor of Saba, policy advisor, and retired pastor, and James Edwin Arrindell, pastor of Christian Faith Ministries, the St Read more

Minister Emil Lee: “Up To Parents To Regulate And Guide Their Children”

St. Maarten – Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Emil Lee, addressed a packed room at Port de Plaisance during the Women’s Desk awareness event and cultural display focusing on “the impact and influence of Music and Media on Violence against Women and Girl”

Minister Lee touched on how the internet is radically changing the way we access information, evolving media continues to increase its influence and penetration into our societies Read more